PRICE OF BREAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 11

PRICE OF BREAD

MR. LYE ON COST OF LIVING (From Our Own Correspondent) CAMBRIDGE. Thursday. “In spite of electioneering promises no serious attempt has been made by Reform to deal with the high cost of living.” declared Mr. Fred Lye, United Party candidate for Waikato, at th*' Town Hall this evening, when he spoke to a very large attendance. The Mayor, Mr. T. F. Richards, presided. Mr. Lye emphasised the need for a solid opposition to the Government. By a most pernicious system of State subsidies, embargoes on imports and high customs duties, they had very considerably added to the cost of living, thereby inflicting hardships upon the average family man. It was clearly seen that prohibiing the importation of wheat and flour into the IYominion by high customs duties, had for a long period forced up the cost of the staple article of diet A 41b loaf of bread was being sold in London at 7Jd. the same costing is 2d cash over the counter in this country It appeared that Mr. Hawken was prepared to give a subsidy to the wheatgrowers, a guarantee of Is 4d u dozen on eggs, customs duties for the manufacturers, a guarantee to the fruitgrowers, so that Reform might have the various interests’ votes at election time. It was high time there kas a change with a revision of customs tariffs. (.Applause.) Supporting Sir Joseph Ward’s financial proposals, the candidate stressed the fact that it was not so much the high land values as the high mortguge rat© that was hurting the farmer to-day. The country" had to have cheaper money and more of it.

The present system of banking was criticised by Mr. Lye, who said that at the present time they traded on the credit of the people. After answering a number of Questions the candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.